With its dazzling design and sparkling gemstone, the Royal Canadian Mint's new issue isn't your typical Canadian dollar coin.

The “gem” of an ammonite dates back 71 million years, and comes with a curious coating of ammolite, giving it a dazzling rainbow iridescence. “A 'Gem' Ammonite in Matrix from the Bearpaw ...

This brilliant feature suggests the fossil may qualify as true ammolite, a rare and valuable gemstone better known from Alberta, Canada. “Ammolite is very unique as it’s a biological gemstone ...